Horse Related Injury Brochure - Alberta Equestrian Federation

If an Injury Happens
Responding to a severely injured rider
If an accident resulting in an injury occurs, do not approach the victim until
you know the scene is safe. You don’t want to become a victim yourself. Think
clearly and pay attention to the environment. If the scene is not safe, try to create
a safety zone around the victim. If possible, make sure the horse is secured. If it
is not safe to approach the victim, call 911 for help immediately.
As you approach, speak to the injured person to see if he/she is able to talk
or respond to you. If the person is alert and able to talk, ask them where it
hurts. Determine whether you are able to help the victim yourself or call 911 for
assistance if necessary.
If the injured person does not respond, then touch, rub or pinch the patient’s
skin to try to incite a response. Do not shake the patient in case a spinal injury is
present. If the injured person remains unresponsive, or if he/she appears to have
serious injuries, do not move him/her or allow him/her to move unless absolutely
necessary (for example, if the rider is face down in water). Call 911 to get help.
If the patient is unresponsive, follow these steps:
1. Look, listen and feel for breathing. If the patient is breathing, do not move
him/her. Look for signs of injury.
2. If the injured person is not breathing, ensure the airway is open. Open his/
her mouth by lifting the chin or pushing the jaw forward.
3. Feel for a pulse in the patient’s neck or wrist. If there’s no pulse, start
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you are trained. If you are not
trained, wait for emergency medical personnel.
If an injured person is bleeding, place a dressing over the wound and apply
pressure to the site until the bleeding stops. If you suspect the person has a
broken bone, stabilize the injured part and seek medical assistance. Keep the
injured person warm, and do not allow him/her to eat or drink until he/she has
been evaluated by a medical professional. It is always good to have one or more
persons in your riding group trained in CPR.
Could this happen to you
Just last Monday I rode my horse. He is a good
horse, we never had a problem. A few days ago,
however, the air was crisp and we were both
feeling a little frisky. We got into a trot which
I wanted to sustain for a while. He obliged
me, staying in perfect cadence for several runs
around our equipment garage. He let out a few
snorts, telling me that this was fun! Then, ever
so quickly, I felt him tighten and I felt myself
flying up and over his right shoulder. Usually this
sort of thing happens in slow motion. Not this
time! I slammed onto the ground – right on my
head – and then slammed onto my back on the
gravel driveway. Yes, I was wearing a helmet.
As it turned out, I got a really good concussion
and wrenched my arm in the fall – probably
from reaching out and grabbing the saddle
as I fell. My left hand was blistered and torn.
My back quickly swelled. And my head ached.
When three days later the ache became piercing
and my attention became fuzzy, I went to the
doctor. After a CT scan I was diagnosed with a
concussion and contusions. As of today – a week
and two days later – my arm still hurts, but my
head is much better.”
Lunge or walk a horse that has been inactive
or is frisky. Some horses need to be able to
let off some steam without a rider on their
backs, some don’t. Know your horse and its
personality so you can approach riding safely.
(Placeholder for brain
imaging depicting
concussion)
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